About the AES Panamá Foundation
The AES Panamá Foundation is a non-profit organization created in 2020 to oversee the sustainability and corporate social responsibility initiatives of the AES group of companies in Panama. The Foundation is a centralizing entity and executing arm of the AES companies in the country to carry out sustainable and development projects for the communities where we operate.
We are committed in improving lives through sustainable projects that promote the economic and social development of the communities we serve in Panama. We believe that by working together, we can create a more sustainable future for everyone.
Our vision is to be the leading organization for sustainable corporate social responsibility in Panama’s energy sector, raising the quality of life of the communities we serve.
Miguel Bolinaga, President
Our journey to sustainability
AES Panamá has a long history of supporting our communities in Panama. Since 1999, we have invested more than US $90 million in social projects that have benefited the communities in the areas of sports, environment, entrepreneurship, education, health and safety.
We are committed to our journey to sustainability, and we believe that the AES Panamá Foundation is critical to achieving our goals. We work with our communities to promote sustainable practices, and we are investing in research and development to develop new technologies that will help us to reduce our environmental impact.
Impact areas
- Access to safe, efficient, and accessible energy and basic services
- Inclusive economic growth
- Environmental conservation
- Well-being, health, and safety of communities
Our contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goals
Foundation management and administration
The management and administration bodies of the Foundation are the General Assemblies and the Board of Directors. The General Assembly is the highest authority of the Foundation and is comprised of AES Panamá, AES Changuinola, Costa Norte LNG Terminal, and Gas Natural Atlántico. The Board of Directors is the body responsible for the administration of the Foundation and its assets, as well as the dispatch of its normal affairs. Its members are:
Miguel Bolinaga
President
Edgar Ivankovich
Vice President
Mayka McCalla
Chair
Angelica Bertoli
Secretary
Cecilia Maldini
Treasurer
Veronica Sinisterra
Ethics and Compliance Officer
The information on responsibilities, duties, rights, and other legal processes related to the organization and operation of the Foundation can be found in the Statutes of AES Panamá Foundation.
All projects that are carried out or donations made by the Foundation must be approved by the Foundation's management team and the Ethics and Compliance Officer to guarantee that they are aligned with our lines of action and that they comply with the highest standards of integrity and transparency.
Our impact in 2023
+1,000 corporate volunteering hours
+$200K in social investment
+3,000 direct beneficiaries
Affiliations
Panamanian Chamber of Social Development (CAPADESO)
CAPADESO has always been a strong ally of the AES Panamá Foundation, since it is a network of non-governmental, non-profit organizations that promote social development in Panama. Its members are non-profit organizations dedicated to the social development of the country that meets the objective of representation in the sector.
National Institute of Professional Training for Human Development (INADEH)
The AES Panamá Foundation signed a Cooperation and Technical Assistance Agreement with INADEH with the objective of developing training programs to benefit the people of the communities. With this strategic alliance, the AES Panamá Foundation and INADEH will develop training programs to empower women who live in communities with difficult access and in vulnerable situations.
Technological University of Panama (UTP)
The AES Panamá Foundation signed a collaborative framework agreement with UTP to promote cooperation activities in the academic, scientific, and cultural areas, such as research and scientific-technological development in fields of electricity, mechanics, languages, and data sciences.
Ciudad del Saber Foundation
In 2022, the AES Panamá Foundation and the Ciudad del Saber Foundation signed a cooperation agreement to promote the opening of the startup ecosystem in Panama and link the activities of corporate social responsibility and social investment between both foundations, including collaborative access to facilitate learning and innovation initiatives.
Wetlands International
Wetlands International is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and biodiversity of wetlands, specifically mangroves in Panama. For years, the AES Panamá Foundation has relied on the partnership with Wetlands International to help us in our mission to support and enhance Panama´s biodiversity and the environment. We partner together at the yearly Galeta Island mangrove reforestation volunteering activity and other volunteer opportunities, such as beach cleanups in Costa del Este.
Don Bosco Technical Institute
The AES Panamá Foundation signed a technical cooperation agreement with Don Bosco Technical Institute to form the "I am an Electrician Woman" program. The program benefitted 25 vulnerable women residents of Panama City between 18 and 35 years old who graduated from of official educational centers. The Don Bosco Technical Institute is a pastoral educational community that accompanies the comprehensive educational process of children, young people, and their families through technical-professional training.
Yaguara Foundation
The Yaguara Foundation is one of AES Panama Foundation’s closest allies in environmental conservation as we partner to support them in their mission to preserve Panama’s jaguar population. The AES Panamá Foundation is part of the Directing Committee for their GEF7 Project: Conservation of felines and species of prey through the public-private associations and conflict management between humans and jaguars in Panama.
Panamanian Ministry of Education (MEDUCA)
The AES Panamá Foundation partnered with MEDUCA for our Tilapia Growth and Fattening Social Impact Project. MEDUCA aims to provide quality educational care to the population of students with special educational needs who enter the country's schools. For its role in the project, MEDUCA manages personnel, receives the fish, offers its facilities, and provides space for parents to feed their children. The purpose of the program is to strengthen school nutrition and improve the academic performance of students in Changuinola. The AES Panamá Foundation achieves this by delivering tilapia, a nutritious fish, to educational centers in the region. This initiative not only emphasizes the importance of healthy eating but also highlights the positive impact it has on students' overall well-being and development.
Private Sector Council for Educational Assistance (COSPAE)
COSPAE is an ally and supporter of AES Panama Foundation´s “Soy Mujer Electricista” program. COSPAE is a non-profit organization made up of 34 business, civic and academic associations in the country. COSPAE aided in the recruitment and monitoring of the 23 women that graduated from the first generation of the program.
Social impact project criteria
- Being in the communities of influence of AES Panamá’s plants and / or construction projects.
- Generate value for communities and / or respond to actual needs.
- Provide sustainable and long-term benefits for the communities.
- Align with one of the four lines of action and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- Generate a measurable impact through the years.
- Be comprehensive initiatives and not specific needs.
- Benefit a significant portion of the community, not specific individuals.
- Be replicable in all or most of the localities if it responds to the needs of each community.
- Be promoted by organizations or institutions duly conformed according to the laws of Panama.